IT minister calls for talks with industry leaders on jobs, digital India

Tight appraisals in IT firms, which have led to axing of non-performers, will also be taken up

Information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has scheduled a meeting with seniors of IT services entities and electronics manufacturers this coming Friday, to discuss problems in the sector.

Top of the agenda is  a concern over jobs in IT, where growth is slowing due to shifts in technology, automation and growing protectionism in developed markets. 

The tight appraisal system among IT comoanies, which has led to dismissal of many, is a related issue.

The government wishes to hasten its aim of a $1 trillion digital economy by 2022 through its Digital India plan.

A ministry official said the government had partnered with industry in design of new services and platforms like MyGov, digital locker e-Sign, cloud services, the government e-marketplace, e-national agricultural market and the like. 

The time had come, to take this to the next level.

Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha is meeting promoters of companies in that sector on June 22, to discuss financial stress. Both ministries' role is seen as crucial if Digital India is to take off.
 

During Prasad's meeting, the issue of job layoffs by IT companies is likely to be discussed and possible solutions.